Pressure now on E-Painters, says Game 3 hero Sangalang
The pressure is on for Rain or Shine as far as Ian Sangalang is concerned after playing the heroic role in Magnolia’s Game 3 victory Tuesday that could turn the tide in their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series.
Sangalang’s 10 of his 16 points in the final six minutes enabled the Hotshots to secure an 85-74 win Tuesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, preventing a 0-3 hole while going into the Holy Week break brimming with confidence.
Rain or Shine still leads the best-ofseven series, 2-1, but Sangalang feels the momentum has shifted to Magnolia’s side.
“Yung momentum nasa amin, kahit papaano nabigyan namin sila ng pressure,” Sangalang said.
(“The momentum is now our side and I think we were able to put the pressure on Rain or Shine.”)
“Wala silang pressure nung first two games, parang basketball, basketball lang sila. Ngayon nabigyan namin sila ng kahit konting pressure.” (“Rain or Shine played basketball without pressure in the first two games, but now, I feel that we gave them a little bit of pressure.”)
Game 4 is slated Monday at the Big Dome and Magnolia is keen on capitalizing the six-day break after playing seven games in 15 days.
The stretch began in the final game of the elimination round when the Hotshots clinched the No. 6 seed with a lopsided victory over the NLEX Road Warriors last April 3. That followed with a hard-fought threegame quarterfinal series triumph over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel as Magnolia took Games 2 and 3 by an average margin of 21 points.
Magnolia was outplayed in the first two semis games with Rain or Shine having multiple players stepping up while its key personnel struggled while enduring fatigue.
The break is something the Hotshots are embracing.